Turning Sailing Dreams Into Reality

Published: Monday, September 24, 2018
By: Beth Oliver, Director of Marketing, Offshore Sailing School

Do you yearn to sail away, explore exotic locales, relax under sail with no schedule in place? Maybe you wish to build on sailing skills you already have, or win more races?

At Offshore Sailing School, we have been living the dream for nearly 55 years, teaching more than 150,000 adults and families to sail, race, and enjoy sailing vacations. What started on a cocktail napkin as an idea to share a love for sailing, grew to more than 10 locations in the U.S. and abroad, with six schools now at resort locations in Florida and the British Virgin Islands. Offshore Sailing School founder Steve Colgate, and his wife Doris, built and operate one of the most recognized and revered sailing education companies in the world. The Colgates do what they preach, living the sailing lifestyle. They developed the company’s many course curricula, designed the Colgate 26 for basic sailing and racing courses, and launched the “flotilla vacation” concept, personally planning and hosting hundreds of sailing adventures world-wide. On the global racing circuit, they even campaigned their own 54’ sloop, Sleuth.

The sense of accomplishment, of freedom, and having a lifelong skill to share with friends and family are the most common revelations we hear from enthusiastic Offshore Sailing School graduates. By extension, flotilla vacations are a great way to see the world under sail, make new friends, and continue your sailing lifestyle. Colgate Sailing Adventures®’ participants sailed in Belize, the Greek Islands, and Tahiti in 2018. Six flotilla trips are planned for 2019, starting with the company’s 55th Anniversary “Insider’s Guide to the BVI” flotilla in February, when a break from frigid weather brings welcome relief!

Offshore Sailing School teaches all levels of sailing aboard Colgate 26s and 40’-50’ yachts and catamarans. Steve Colgate is an Olympian, America’s Cup sailor, and National Sailing Hall of Fame inductee. Doris Colgate founded the National Women’s Sailing Association and Women’s Sailing Foundation. Individually and together, they have authored multiple books on sailing, published for national and international distribution.